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"All the attributes necessary not just for this music to survive, but to have a brilliant future"
- Jazz Improv Magazine |
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator Rob Derke has been hailed by JazzTimes Magazine as “among the best soprano saxophonists today” and has become known to a growing audience as “one of the most expressive saxophonists on the scene” (Joe Lovano). As a player and bandleader that “commandeers the stage from the downbeat while never doing the expected” (Arte Fuse), Rob has appeared at venues that include Birdland, Iridium, Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Yoshi’s San Francisco, JVC Jazz Festival, and many other venues throughout the country. He has also become one of the most versatile artists to have appeared on international stages, in studios, on TV and film scores, and on the Billboard Charts.
Growing up in the culturally rich environment of New York City, and subsequently working and learning alongside some of the true masters of Jazz, Rob has had the opportunity to develop his artistic voice with the help of such luminaries as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Davey Schildkraut, Justin DiCioccio, Red Rodney, Babatunde Olatunji, Dave Liebman, Jon Faddis, Ray Vega, Candido Camero, Randy Brecker, and scores of other artists that have defined the essence, diversity, creativity, and professionalism of the NY music scene. Above all, these experience are what has fueled his dedication to leading the charge as an internationally acclaimed educator committed to a future generation that celebrates and supports the arts in every facet of one's life.
Rob’s travels have taken him to the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and these experiences have found their way into Rob’s compositions and approach to improvisation. This provides a unique and exciting framework that allows his “wealth of ideas and inherent artistry” (JazzTimes) to shine through by “evoking new vocabularies and methodologies along with players who are intriguing, a force of nature, and brilliant” (FAME Review). He has been called “at the forefront of redefining the future” of arts education by WABC TV, and his commitment to the music can be heard in full force on his latest CD, Blue Divide (ZOHO Music), which debuted at #33 on CMJ and was deemed “a lesson in group interplay” by Downbeat Magazine.
Rob holds an EdD from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, a MM from Purchase Conservatory at SUNY, and a BM from Manhattan School of Music. As a scholar-practitioner, consultant, and published author, Rob is engaged in numerous research activities that examine the intersection of leadership, program design, learning, and evaluation. This research compliments his consulting and leadership work in a range of contexts, including arts organizations, schools, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Growing up in the culturally rich environment of New York City, and subsequently working and learning alongside some of the true masters of Jazz, Rob has had the opportunity to develop his artistic voice with the help of such luminaries as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Davey Schildkraut, Justin DiCioccio, Red Rodney, Babatunde Olatunji, Dave Liebman, Jon Faddis, Ray Vega, Candido Camero, Randy Brecker, and scores of other artists that have defined the essence, diversity, creativity, and professionalism of the NY music scene. Above all, these experience are what has fueled his dedication to leading the charge as an internationally acclaimed educator committed to a future generation that celebrates and supports the arts in every facet of one's life.
Rob’s travels have taken him to the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and these experiences have found their way into Rob’s compositions and approach to improvisation. This provides a unique and exciting framework that allows his “wealth of ideas and inherent artistry” (JazzTimes) to shine through by “evoking new vocabularies and methodologies along with players who are intriguing, a force of nature, and brilliant” (FAME Review). He has been called “at the forefront of redefining the future” of arts education by WABC TV, and his commitment to the music can be heard in full force on his latest CD, Blue Divide (ZOHO Music), which debuted at #33 on CMJ and was deemed “a lesson in group interplay” by Downbeat Magazine.
Rob holds an EdD from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, a MM from Purchase Conservatory at SUNY, and a BM from Manhattan School of Music. As a scholar-practitioner, consultant, and published author, Rob is engaged in numerous research activities that examine the intersection of leadership, program design, learning, and evaluation. This research compliments his consulting and leadership work in a range of contexts, including arts organizations, schools, nonprofits, and government agencies.